Freddie King vs BB King

[JoeNeri]

I was on the fence until I watched the first 4 minutes of this...

No offense to B.B. but, I am not sure he would have wanted to be cutting heads with Freddie back in the day... Wow!

Can't compare two totally different playing styles. There are lots of 2nd and 3rd generation blues guys that sound like Freddie (EC, SRV, etc.) but no one's been able to emulate and/or copy B.B.'s style and phrasing.

As to cutting, you need to listen to some of B.B.'s earlier recordings. The man can play more than just the slow ones!

Here's a true showcase of B.B. and Albert (and some of their proteges). No Freddie - he was long gone when this was recorded. Cool to watch Albert and SRV at around 29:30, with B.B. coming back on at 33:30. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=JPlI6ZWi4JQ

 

[brookdalebill]

No fair.
Love em' both, separately, but equally.
All three Kings were!

 

[Mjark]

Both are good but B.B. King in his day was the best.

 

[Telemarkman]

I love them both, but Freddy was my favorite.

I've seen all three Kings live ... all great! Freddie was the best guitar player - no doubt about it. So my vote goes to him. B.B. was a great showman though, but a bit limited as a player. But he sure could hit those right notes.

 

[Mjark]

 

[TheGoodTexan]

I've seen all three Kings live ... all great! Freddie was the best guitar player - no doubt about it. So my vote goes to him. B.B. was a great showman though, but a bit limited as a player. But he sure could hit those right notes.

I've seen BB a ton of times. Even met him a few times.

I started playing guitar in 1984 when I was 12. I started trying to play Hendrix and SRV tunes almost immediately, but for whatever reason I never even heard about Albert King until about 1991 when I read a posthumous SRV interview in a magazine. By that time, he had really stopped playing live for the most part. I really wish that I had gone to see him live. When I got my first Albert King album (I'll Play the Blues for You), it was like I had discovered a grandfather that I never knew existed.

Most attitude - Albert King
Most chops - Freddie King
Most likely to sway your lady friend - B.B. King

 

[BopT]

Hideaway versus Sweet Little Angel too different and important to choose!

 

[Solcat]

Both great, but only one was good enough to sell albums of nothing but instrumentals, Freddie.

 

[Ringo]

I like all the Kings, Albert, BB and Freddie, but I'm more partial to Freddie and Albert.

And don't forget Earl King - not as well known, but everyone knows this song as covered by Jimi

 

[DaBender]

Both great, but only one was good enough to sell albums of nothing but instrumentals, Freddie.

Maybe album(s), the plural, is true, but there's one BB all instrumental album few know about - "Spotlight On Lucille", and it's a good one.

 

[telleutelleme]

B B for me but only because he can make one note stand out like it was the only note needed. All three Kings are great in their own ways.

 

[Warren Pederson]

I think Freddie could be tough bastid, BB probably wouldn't give him much fight at all.

 

[unclefred]

Freddie was the best.

 

[geno52]

Any young blues guitar player should learn licks from both of them, and all us old blues players should listen to them often to remind us of how its done.

 

[hemingway]

Freddy just doesn't have BB's range, feeling, or musicality. Freddy is all histrionics, no subtlety.

Whenever I lose my way in the blues, five minutes of BB will put me back on track.

If Freddy had a different surname I'm not sure we'd even remember him.

 

[Spikerama]

I'll take Freddie, except when I hear him sing , it reminds me of Clapton poorly trying to ape him.

blowtorch...I have to agree with that!

My vote goes to Freddie. But, yeah, "Live At The Regal" is great.

If only Freddie's mic was working- that would be enough.
If only Freddie's guitar and amp was working- that would be enough.
If neither mic or guitar was working- his stage presence would be enough.

If you have never heard "Freddie King (1934-1976)" or "Larger Than Life" you owe it to yourself to listen to them!!!!

 

[Spikerama]

And...I believe Freddie outdoes BB on this one...

 

[ItchyFingers]

Two great players for sure. I doubt either one of them would appreciate the vs. between their names as in the title of the thread.
They play different styles. Both play or have played some wonderful stuff.
I tend to reach for B.B. King more than Freddie. It's just a personal taste thing regarding different styles. Freddie does get my toes tapping big time as well.

 

[Shidoin]

BB's creative prime was mid to late '50's; Freddy's was somewhat later. I'm sure Freddy learned plenty from B's records.
I saw B cut Freddy big time at the Santa Monica civic back about '74, and he did it with one note.

 

[Robert H.]

I think Freddie could do more with a guitar, but I have to admit I love listening to BB even more. And B is the greatest of ambassadors for American Blues.